Finally solved?... how DID McClane identify Bill Clay as Gruber

Guy investigating the roof after McClane saw the explosives. Even if he gave Hans 1% of being civilian, an unloaded gun is the safer bet. We're talking about an NYPD seasoned cop, not some Rambo jabroni.

...my essential 50 http://www.imdb.com/list/ls056413299/

Some good observations, most of which have been touched on before, particularly the cigarettes, which I agree with.

Also, I'm not sure if this is a fact, but there was a rumour floating around years ago that the guy that John was talking to on the plane WAS Bill Clay, at least in one of the scripts.

Topic creator is over thinking it just as a lot of others do. John didn't know if this guy was a civilian or a terrorist, but gave him an empty gun to see if this guy could be trusted or not. Anybody can tell that once Hans reveals himself, John realized that it was Hans. It's that simple.

"These guys are mostly European judging from their clothing labels and---"

At this point, Willis very deliberately pauses and looks over his shoulder as if he's had some sort of realization.

"-- cigarettes."


I always took this to mean John simply thought he heard something hence the pause, as opposed to a moment of realization. Could be just me.


There were supposedly scenes where John notices that all the guys he kills (and searches) are wearing Tag Heuer watches however these were all cut, likewise he notices Han's watch but this scene was also cut for continuity, therefor creating a continuity error in itself of sorts. There was to be an establishing scene involving the watches early on (when the "terrorists" first leave their truck in the basement carpark) but again cutting room floor.

When John glances at the board and sees that in fact Clay is on the employee board, the audience is probably supposed to think John has been thrown off as to Han's identity (not us though, as we know what Hans looks like).

Personally I prefer everyone else's explanation that he simply doesn't know one way or the other whether Clay is a civilian or terrorist and it's completely reasonable for him to suspect him, hence giving him the unloaded weapon as a safe test.

UNCOMPROMISING UNDERGROUND FILTH

I always assumed John knew because the sign on the board said "CLAY WM" instead of "CLAY B"

His accent? I'll never know why people are fooled by this? It's clearly Hans speak all the way...

o wow..good calls with the cigarettes & the watch...

http://www.imdb.com/list/kqPSGxyrCVI/

http://www.imdb.com/list/LeCFe9OQTEA/

When McClane first comes across 'Bill Clay' McClane appears genuinely surprised to see a civilian running around loose. Gruber does not tell McClane that he 'escaped' from the terrorists... so the argument about lack of radio chatter from the terrorists has no basis. McClane would have no reason not to think that someone else in the entire building may have evaded the terrorists like he did.

If you watch the scene on Youtube, it's very clear that it's only AFTER he gives Bill Clay the cigarette -- but BEFORE Bill Clay gives him his name -- that McClane's demeanour changes and he appears suspicious. Hence, the reason he asks Bill Clay his name.

So, I stand fast in my argument that something about the cigarettes makes him suspect Bill Clay's veracity, especially in view of the earlier scene when he was talking to Al about the fact that the cigarettes were European.

However, the watch/suit is a valid argument too so I'll concede that one.

The idea that he would just hand over an empty gun as a general means test is also poor logic by some people here. No cop would do that. What happens if Bill Clay is genuine, the terrorists confront them and poor Bill gets killed trying to defend himself with his empty gun? McClane would be to blame for misleading him.

No, McClane knew BEFORE he handed the gun over that Bill Clay was not who he said he was.